THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8, 9 January 1908, Page 4

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

SEVERAL MILLS CLOSED. (By Telegraph.—~\vn Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. It is stated that owing to the pronounced weakening in the price of flax, several mills in the north of this Island are about to be closed down. Mr. M. F. Bourke. of this city, informed a "Dominion" reporter that operations were to cease at three of his mills in : the. Auckland district. The price was ' still sound enough to work if a miller was working his own flax, but not if paying the royalty that he (Mr. Bourke) was in Auckland. They would soon find j out that there was nothing in it. He thought the adoption of a sliding scale in royalties by flaxowners might have the. effect of maintaining the industry continuously, but here was a case where a man was compelled to pay the same royalty, now as when flax was bringing ten pounds per ton more. ST. HELENA EXPERIMENT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Mr. Fulton, flax expert, writes to the Minister for Agriculture that the seeds which he took to St. Helena germinated well, but when the plants began to grow they were severely attacked by grubs. Other experiments are now being tried. Mr. Fulton has been erecting a mill and plant, and preparing a site. Settlers are transplanting fairly extensively, but the industry could not be made remunerative inside four years.